Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1887-01-20
CUMBERLAND COURTS.
Wednesday, January 18th.


room to hear about the famous Glass
House case. The case is rapidly draw
ing to close.
Robert Brokell was the first witness
of the session; he was sworn before
Court adjourned, but was in the wit
ness box but very short time. He
testified that he was member of the
Local Glass organization and had rep
resented it as a delegate to various
conventions. He was Treasurer of the
local organization for some time, and
had charge of and distributed all relief
funds sent to the Order; was to exer-
else his own individual judgment as to
who were or were not needy, deserving
cases. He knew nothing in any way,
shape or form of the burning of Lup-
toms glass factory. He had received
no money for it, and indeed, did not
know that the Glass organization was
blamed for it until some time after the
fire occurred. He was busily engaged
at his boarding house all the day pre-
vious to the fire; was called by Mrs
Pennington, his landlady, when the
alarm sounded. Had seen Ryan hold
interview with Tomlin, but has no
conception of the nature of their bust
ness. He had heard that William
johnson, the manager of the works,
had them burned, as they were not
paying and he wanted the insurance
Of his own personal knowledge Hol-
comb was not expelled formally from
the League; his name had been erased
from the rolls.
His landlady, Mrs. Pennington, Miss
Ruth Pennington, and several other
witnesses swore to his good character
and uniform honesty.
Yeomans Paul, the Master Work
man of the Labor association, testified
that Holcomb was not a member of
the Knights of Labor; was at one time,
but had broken his obligations to the
Order. and his name had been stricken
from the rolls.
John Mack, a bottle blower, and a
former member of the League, had an
unfavorable opinion of Holcomb. The
witness had himself been expelled
from the Order because he had failed
to discharge his obligations. The
reputation of Holcomb among his fell
low workmen was not good.
Samuel NJ. Wells. brother of James
B. Wells, one of the accused, said Hol-
comb had told him that all the accused
but his brother would be convicted
and sent to the penitentiary.
Daniel Gentry testified about
the burning of the factory, which was
substantially the same as the PIONEER
has heretofore published. Ryan told
the witness that man from Salem
offered him $500 to burn the factory;
the next day he got $3.50 of it; didn't
know who the man from Salem was.
William M. Manks disclaimed any
knowledge of the affair in any way,
shape or form. He did not convene
any special meeting after the fire; was
not the official who does such things;
did not go to Philadelphia to get the
money.
Quite a number of witnesses were
sworn by the State in support of the
credibility of it's most important wit
ness, Holcomb.
At last all the evidence of this long,
| tedious case is in; but few minutes
remains of the session. After dis
cussion among counsel, Mr.. Il. W..
Trenchard summed up in behalf of
John Ryan. He made very thorough
inquiry into the nature of the testi-
mony. There was no evidence in the
least against Ryan except his own
statements. Mr.. Trenchard occupied
the attention of the jury for half an
| hour.
Thursday. January 18th.
The attendance to hear the summing
up of the testimony by the men of law,
was certainly not less than that of the
previous days of the trial. The law
yers for Boice, Brokell, Watson and
| Wells knew the interest in the case,
and made the most of the opportunity.
The first argument of the day was
made by Mr.. j. l.. VanSyckle, and he
devoted to the case all the skill his
abilities permitted The testimony
was reviewed thoroughly and at
length. Two theories of the burning
| were presented; one that Ryan did not
burn the factory, the other that he
did. Not much time was spent on the
former theory, but the latter was
taken up at length. Mr. VanSyckel
announced his firm belief in the theory